Intro:  

What part of the Adventist Message should we share with the non-adventist non-christian world? How many say we shouldn’t hold anything back?

— Should we share the gospel? Certainly

— Should we share the law & the Sabbath?

— What about Ellen White’s councils on diet, on dress reform?

— What about the Testimonies to the Church (Vol. 1-9)?

It might surprise you to know that the Apostle Paul did not believe that everything that was taught to the church was also a message for those not yet in the church, nor was every gift of the spirit given to minister to church members:

“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”  — 1 Corinthians 14:22

Here Paul explicitly says that Tongues are a spiritual gift, not for the church, but for those who are outside the church. Why? Because the gift of tongues, is a spiritual gift of speaking in other languages so that the gospel can Go to those outside the church around the world. What about the gift of prophecy? As Seventh-day Adventists we know about the gift of Prophecy… Is that part of our message and beliefs? But notice that prophecy is not for those who are outside the church, who is it for? Believers inside the church.

Not everything you believe should be shared all at once with others — why? Jesus gives us the answer:

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” — John 16:12

Receiving truth is a process, a step by step process… You could describe salvation as a journey that progresses — when you first start on the journey of faith you are like a baby Christian — and I know all about babies! Babies want to put everything in their mouth, weather it is good for them or not, but babies are meant to drink milk at first.

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” — 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Paul looked at the Corinthians and said, I’d like to feed you more advanced spiritual understanding, but you just can’t receive it yet — You are still “Carnal” meaning the old man has not yet died and Christ is not living in you and so you need milk not meat.

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” — Hebrews 5:11-14

Notice that milk comes before meat — Milk represents the first principles (If you are just beginning your journey with God you need Milk), Meat represents the more difficult things to understand in God’s Word, The things that you need a foundation in Christ in order to receive into your life. The meat is taken by those who have a solid relationship and commitment to

Christ.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” — 1 Corinthians 2:14

If you give meat to newborn, what will happen? He’s going to choke on it… If as a Christian you share with the world the councils that are meant just for the Church, the Bible says they won’t understand the significance. You must learn as a Christian what are the first principles of truth in the ladder of grace and start where people are — reach people where they are…   

What part of the Adventist message should we share with the world — Milk before Meat. If you will see people growing in Jesus Christ, if you are going to grow in Christ, you can’t leap over or skip the steps… We must teach and learn ourselves step number one, before we are ready to receive step #2, or our experience with Christ will be incomplete.

what are the first things we should share with others — What are the first principles of truth?

When you read the book of Romans you see that Paul begins with the first step and moves gradually forward: Here are the steps:

1. A Sinner Must Recognize Their Need of Christ First before they are willing to receive Christ
2. Those who recognize their need of Christ must realize the gift of God and that all the gifts of Salvation are opened to us through faith.
3. Those who place their faith in God and receive the gift of Salvation provided through His grace, must understand their identity in Christ.
4. Lastly, once identity in Christ is understood, our duty to Christ must be understood… Grace comes before we can keep the Law — Faith in God must be firmly established before we can perform our duties to God and to His Church…

• Romans 1-3 — Paul reveals Humanities need of a Savior — Until people realize their need of a Savior are they going to seek a Savior? NO — So why do we need a Savior?

1. Paul begins by proving that every person, no matter who they are or where they are born, senses down inside their need of God… For God has revealed it to them!

[Rom 1:19 NKJV] 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown [it] to them.

2. Paul then shows our need of God by the degradation, lawlessness, and downward destruction we see in society today — society is headed towards destroying itself without a Savior

[Rom 1:29-32 NKJV] 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; [they are] whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

3. Then Paul reveals that we are all personally in need of God, because we have all sinned, fallen short of God’s glory, and without God’s grace and forgiveness are doomed to eternal death.

[Rom 3:23 NKJV] 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

• Romans 4-9 — Salvation by Grace — God’s Work for us and in us — Justification by Faith, and Righteousness by Faith [Victory over the man of sin] — We are still in the MILK

[Rom 5:1 NKJV] 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

• Romans 10-11 — Our Identity as God’s chosen people in Christ — This might still be considered MILK

[Rom 10:12-13 NKJV] 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

• Romans 12 — Paul now transitions to Councils for the Church — We could rightly say that the rest of Romans is direct councils for God’s Church… We are now in the MEAT — Paul is now speaking directly to Christians, to believers who have accepted Christ, who are rooted in faith, and who are reliant on the grace of God — both forgiveness of sins, and righteousness as a gift from God… They are in CHRIST.

To God’s Church Paul says:  

[Rom 12:1 NKJV] “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Now understand what a “living sacrifice” is… This is no half-hearted commitment — The word “Sacrifice” is “Thusian” referring to a sacrificial lamb, and is used to refer to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross… When we are talking about Sacrifice we are talking about a one way commitment — a commitment that you don’t turn around from… A commitment that you would give your life for.

We live in an age that has no idea what commitment looks like —

1. If you don’t like your boss you quit you job and just find another one
2. If you don’t like your spouse, you quit you marriage and go and find another one
3. If you don’t like your church, your quit your church and try another one

When life gets rough, culture tells us to walk away — but the Lord says — you are called to be a living sacrifice… When you make a commitment to Christ, it is a oneway road, there is no turning back…

[Heb 10:36-39 NKJV] 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, [And] He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if [anyone] draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

A living sacrifice — meaning that although you are alive, every day you give your life totally to the Lord as if you were heading to be burned on an altar as a sacrificial lamb…

[Mat 10:37-39 NKJV] 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

How you live your life, declares who and what is your priority — When God is your priority it will be seen in every relationship you have. To be a living sacrifice is not something that can be done outside of the grace of God — Unless Christ has taken hold of your life, unless you have repented of your sins, and by faith are saved and sanctified and filled with the power of His Spirit, the natural man is unwilling to sacrifice all… Pride will not make a full surrender! But when Jesus has convicted and converted your heart, when you are freed from guilt, and sin, and shame — We proclaim Jesus our Savior as Jesus our LORD!

By the way, Jesus has twice earned the right to be Lord over your life: He is Lord through

Creation, and He is Lord through Redemption. He is Lord because He made you, and He is Lord because He saved you. and so Paul says it your reasonable service to present your bodies as a living sacrifice!

“But what do we give up, when we give all? A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, to cleanse by His own blood, and to save by His matchless love. And yet men think it hard to give up all! I am ashamed to hear it spoken of, ashamed to write it. God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain. In all that He does, He has the well-being of His children in view. Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves. Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God. No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best and who plans for the good of His creatures. The path of transgression is the path of misery and destruction.” — Steps to

Christ, 46.2

Is there any area of my life that should be outside the dominion of Jesus if He is Lord of my life? — The Bible declares that when Jesus paid for your sins by His blood, you were purchased from sin and satan to serve God. You were bought with the infinite price of Jesus blood — Salvation was not FREE — Salvation is not CHEAP — You can’t pick it up wherever you want… It cost the life ofJesus, and only through the purchase price of His crimson blood flowing down His back, from His hands and feet and side — only at the price of the body of Jesus could you be free from slavery to Satan and Sin.

[1Pe 1:18-19 NKJV] 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, [like] silver or gold, from your aimless conduct [received] by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

[1Co 6:19-20 NKJV] 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [who is] in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Is there any area of my that should be outside the dominion of Jesus if He is Lord of my life? If He bought me with His own blood? — NO!

I am accountable to Jesus for my thoughts

I am accountable to Jesus for my words

I am accountable to Jesus certainly for my actions

I am accountable to Him for what I wear, for where I go, for what I eat, or drink…

[1Co 10:31 NKJV] 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

A living sacrifice offers it all on the table before God —A living sacrifice says God you have the right to discover anything in my life that is out of harmony with you and to move upon me to repent, to turn it over to you… It is our duty, and truth be told it is our privilege to lay it before the Lord.

Now Paul turns his attention to a particularly painful area of sacrifice for the Church in verse 2:

[Rom 12:2 NKJV] 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul says don’t be conformed to the world — the greek word is “to this age”  = “Aeon” — to this time period, or to this present culture… Don’t live your life with Culture as your standard, because culture is often wrong! and today that is more important than ever

Culture will tell you what to vote

Culture will tell you what to think

Culture will tell you what to wear, what to eat, what to pursue

Culture will tell you the car to drive, the house to live in, the shows to watch

But Culture is not Lord of your life, Jesus Christ is… Don’t be sept up in the movements of today — don’t be wrapped up in the politics of today — don’t be engrossed in the fashions of today!!! Culture will not bring you to heaven, Culture will not make you a Christian, Culture will not give an eternal crown of glory! Our Master is Jesus Christ and our marching orders are from Him and let me tell you the World and Christ are at war with one another.

[1Jo 2:15 NKJV] 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

[Jas 4:4 NKJV] 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

If this is true, then our attractions to the world and the things of the world will make us God’s enemy — and do you want to be an enemy with God because of the worldly music you allow into your home? Do you want to make yourself an enemy of God because of the worldly videos you watch? Can we afford to make ourselves an enemy of God because of the worldly desires we have?

When the truth, the solemn, important truth, gets hold of them, self will die; then the language will not be, “I will go there, I will not stay here;” but the earnest inquiry will be, “Where does God want me to be? Where can I best glorify him, and where can our united labors do the most good?” Their will should be swallowed up in the will of God. — Gospel Workers, 215.

When Christ is everything to  you, your life question will not be “Do I like it, will it be accepted by my friends, what will my family think of me” — NO — the all consuming question will be “What is God’s will”? Will it bring Him glory? Does heaven approve?  

It is for God’s people to bring the light of God’s searching truth into their lives and ask the hard questions about everything that is associated with their lives. Ask it about your MUSIC — what Music do you listen to? What radio stations are preset in your car? If Jesus were to see your Music Library do you feel He would approve — if not friend, then why do you stand here letting sin remain in your life. Delete the songs, Cancel the Albums, Change the radio station — Repent before God today for how Culture has influenced you, and make a decided change. Give your life as a living Sacrifice to God by giving Him your music, and friends no matter how much you paid for your music, it pales in comparison to how much Jesus paid for your soul.

Some today have video library that if shown in the Judgment would graphically display before the all the angels of heaven the worst of sins — Theft, Murder, Adultery, Lies, Cheating, Cursing, God’s name spoken in profanity, Parents disrespected all laid out in cinema quality… The angels would weep at the very scenes in which we relish. If you hear the Spirit calling, it is time today be transformed and to conform to culture no longer. Delete the videos in your library that have nothing to do with the glory of God — if you would not want holy angels to watch those scenes as your name passes before the Judge of the Universe, then it has no place in your home… Your pastor may not see what is on your hard-drive, but it is all recorded in the books of heaven and better now to come clean and find grace and forgiveness from God today.

Paul says present your bodies a living sacrifice, but how can it be called a sacrifice when your refrigerator is filled with items designed only to indulge your pleasure, and you know the things that you are eating are harming the very body that God created, the very body that Christ spilled His blood for? If you can eat and drink to the glory of God, you can also eat and drink to His dishonor and to sin. By the way, it is not for me or anyone in the Church to judge how one eats or drinks — but it is for each of us to know that we are accountable to God for how we treat the bodies He has given to us. — Remember you are not your own, you were bought at a price! Let even your meals bring God glory! and if you know that there is health destroying, or mind altering foods or beverages in your home — it is our duty and privilege to lay all these down at the alter before God — presenting them as a sacrifice to Him.

Take an inventory of your idle moments, when all you have is your smartphone and time — where do you google searches lead? What are you allowing the auto-play on Youtube to bring into your home? — Are we questioning whether these things bring glory to God, whether heaven would be pleased by what heaven sees?

In all things let your prayer be that of David:

[Psa 139:23-24 NKJV] 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if [there is any] wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Transformation is about reformation — and the reason that the message of reformation is only applicable to a believer is that changed hearts must precede changed lives or the change holds no eternal value…

If you take a unbeliever and make a vegan out of them, what have you done? You’ve only washed the outside of a coffin… but inside there is still death!

Today Christ is calling us to real transformation — See your need of Christ, Place your faith in Him, and then lay all down at the alter as a living sacrifice.

Appeal: Are you wiling to lay it all on the altar today?

Is there someone here today who needs prayer and strength to lay it down? Someone today who wants to respond to the Lord and give themselves to Him as a living sacrifice?